Bathtub



F. J. LASSA March 15, 1949.

BATHTUB 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 18, 1945 IINVENTORI FRANK J. LASSA.BY zgbz, d. M,

FIG. 2-

AT TO RNEYS.

March 15, 1949. F. LASSA 2,464,645

I BATHTUB Filed Dec; 1a, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: FRAN K J. LASSAATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 15, 1949 "UNITED PATENT OFFICE 23 66 ATHTU treat J1 ItemQh eega i l: n icet qn D es be 18, 9 5 eri N 3526 el i 4 m? M n n io e as t0 ba t bs. a d were particularly 'tofeatures of utility therein. Qneh f a i is ih tas new. wh c usual y ifin i b t s; ubb wa te an er h "w ce i t 'r irqiii use 0 seri siee ahifhavto e pa ed b f'r aea. enema a u'w-i t ain'qpeni i in. the When c the bath b. 'v h f e ue tl bsq m tep iflhai i t etherares m i e else bath tubs ofciirrent design are slightlysloping in a forward direction, making it dangerous for the occupant incase of a slipping or sliding movement. Finally, efiorts to'rise from orleave the bath tub, especially in the built-in type, may alsoresultiri'a slip or fall.

In view of the above conditions, the present invention deals withbrtainimprov e r nents which will render the bath tub installation more.durable and permanent, and its use safer. Thus, one objectof the presentinvention is to. provide a built-in or integral waste overflow, the samecontaining simple "means for. draining the bath A further object of theinvention is to design the bath tub with a level floor, but provide asloping draining conduit under the same faced with a removable grill.

A still further object of the invention is to design a pair of handypockets integral with the bath tub to receive the soap, such pocketsincluding a pair of handles to be grasped by the occupant when risingfrom or leaving the bath tub.

Another object of the invention is to provide an integral bracket forthe faucet assembly of the bath tub serving to kee such assembly inplace independently of the wall construction of the bath room.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a strainer betweenthe bottom drain of the bath tub and the waste pipe in order to checkthe pasage of hair, lint and other foreign matter into the same.

With the above objects in view and any others which may suggestthemselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of theinvention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the improved bath tub, partlyin elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section. of the overflow and waste portions of thebath tub;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view;

Fig. 5 is a showing of a portion of Fig. 3, with the aucet assemb y ofthe bath tub. included;

Fla is a a me tal v ew of the le t-ha cent a po ti o Fi 4. showing hestrainer ferre to; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views, of grill sec: n em oy in the floor.forma iQ of the bath tub.

In accordance. with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawingsindicates a built-in type o bath. tu a 15.. th u h the instant, improve:ments are also applicable to the older or roll=rim t pe.- Th flat ri oft e. ba h tub. i5. s i d cated at 1 an dqh ndzdash l nes in Figs. 1 an.4 ieibe th n the secti n. l e. if? inqicat the .9.. .i qne. 9i h w lland: fl r 1 aces f r the wit iesi ll i ea een eqmpletfii.

fi stew that the. Wast eve f qw i the. navel bath 1 b s n t. se arate bass nine. ht w t ca te ant U can n s-isle iece with th bath t b? immaerial at the ba h we haste r the. a h u h it. m be q e n asii i t able."As noted, 'the conduit" has a screwcap closure Ila at the top; and itcontains the usual valve plunger I8 controlled by a. handle I9 and acrank mechanism 20, the valve fitting in a bottom bushing 2| whichconnects with the waste pipe 22.

While the standard bath tub is made with a bottom sloping in forwarddirection, the bottom in the present case is made level. However, adraining conduit 25 is sunken in a longitudinal direction along themiddle of the bath tub, such conduit sloping toward the front of thebath tub. Here it makes a downward connection 26 jointly with theoverflow conduit I! to connect with the waste pipe 22. The opening intothe draining conduit 25 is fitted at floor level with a series of grillplates 29. These have side flanges 30 resting in rabbets 3| in the topedges of the conduit walls, and are flush with the floor of the bath tubwhen laid in. Figs. 7 and 8 show that the plates 29 are made withgrilling 32 either in the longitudinal or the transverse direction toafford a safe footing when the occupant attempts to rise from the bathtub. Needless to say, the grilling may be of difierent designs if thatis desirable. However, the plates 29 are easily removable in case theconduit 25 is to be inspected or cleaned.

Before connecting with the outlet 26, the conduit 25 receives a strainer35 which is in the form of a cup opening rearwardly and designed to trapsolid matter on its way into the drain pipe. Fig. 6 shows the form ofthe strainer, indicating that it 3 may be drawn in a rearward directionto remove it from the neck 36 of the conduit 25.

Fig. 3 shows more clearly that the side walls of the bath tub are setback at the top with opposed pockets 40 which are suitable to receivethe soap as indicated at 4|. Also, the side walls of these pocketsreceive between them integral bars 42 which serve as convenient handles,either or both of which may be gripped b the occupant when rising fromor leaving the bath tub to avoid a slip or fall.

The rim l6 oi the bath tub is extended with a vertical bracket 45 at thefront. This bracket is behind the wall surface line and serves as asupport for the pipes 46 leading to the faucets 41. Since the pipes andfaucets are apt to get out of line when the wall finishing is done, thebracket 45 is provided as a backing for the faucets and made withopenings 48 for the pipes 46 and vertically spaced apertures 49 in thecenter. These serve for a tie wire 50 to secure the spout header to thebracket and keep the assembly rigid.

It will be evident from the above description that the novel bath tubincludes several features of novelty and efliciency. Thus, the integraloverflow installation is exceedingly simple and does not include specialfixtures and fittings which are apt to corrode or get loose. Outside ofthe valve l8, only the standard bushing 2| is required to connect theoverflow conduit to the Waste pipe 22. Further, the provision of thesunken conduit 25 enables the bath tub floor to be made level whilepermitting the easy drainage thereof, the latter being controlled by thestrainer 36 to keep solid matter from clogging the entrance to the wastepipe. Further, the provision of a grilled floor surface along thecentral zone of the bath tub renders the latter safe against slipping orsliding. Further, the pockets 40 place the soap in a handy position ateither side of the tub, while providing the handles 42 for a firm gripwhen the occupant has to rise from or leave the bath tub, this featurebeing of particular importance in the case of the built-in bath tubs,where a good grip or hold of the bath tub walls is impossible. Further,the installation of the bracket to render the faucet assembly rigid isan important feature in the case of built-in bath tubs, which requirethe finishing of the wall to be done after the bath tub has beeninstalled. Finally, the several features entering into the invention donot complicate the bath tub or detract from its appearance, but ratherimprove the design thereof.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minorchanges or refinements may be made therein without departing from itsprinciple, and I desire to consider such changes and refinements ascoming within the scope and spirit of the appended claim.

I claim:

A bath tub having a body, a vertical overflow conduit integral with saidbody and extended from one end wall thereof, the floor of the bath tubbeing level and formed with a longitudinal opening along a medialcourse, a draining conduit under the bath tub integral with said bodyand in communication with said opening, one end of such draining conduitjoining the bottom of said overflow conduit, and a surface grill in theopening, and a removable strainer at the point where the drainingconduit joins the overflow conduit.

FRANK J. LASSA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 714,677 Combs Dec. 2, 19021,426,046 Cohen Aug. 15, 1922 1,856,318 Clarke May 3, 1932 2,094,840Groeniger et al Oct. 5, 1937

